Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Ambassador
More than 220 illegal migrants attempted to break through from Belarus to Poland on April 10.
The daily attempts by tens or even hundreds of people trying to illegally enter Poland have become increasingly common. There has also been a noticeable increase in illegal migration on the borders with Latvia and Lithuania. And this is all happening before the arrival of summer.
Lukashenko's actions are guided by instructions from the Kremlin, with the goal of destabilizing the situation on the border with NATO members and diverting EU resources away from assisting Ukraine.
We cannot discount the possibility of a large-scale provocation, potentially even triggering Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
It is crucial to recognize that representatives of Belarusian and Russian intelligence services, as well as members of the Wagner Group, may attempt to infiltrate EU territory among the illegal migrants.
According to Lukashenko and the Kremlin's plan, the destabilization on the border should ultimately lead to the complete closure of border crossings with the EU. Interestingly, they aim to achieve this while making it appear as if the West is responsible for such a decision.
The closure of borders is part of the preparations for the next phase of the war, and we cannot dismiss this possibility either.
For us, it is important that border crossings remain open for ordinary citizens, while focusing on blocking freight railway traffic. This strategy would exert significant pressure on the regime and involve China in finding a solution to the issue of illegal migration.